The Vodacom Bulls u/20 side secured a commanding 73-10 victory over their Toyota Free State counterparts in an SA Rugby u/20 Cup match at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Playing in front of a good crowd of spectators as a precursor to the Vodacom United Rugby Championship game between the senior Vodacom Bulls team and Ulster Rugby, the side from Tshwane looked motivated from the first whistle.
The Bulls dominated the match from the start in all aspects, especially with their powerful forward pack. Their effective forwards set the platform for powerful driving mauls which they used to score the majority of their tries. They scored their bonus point try within the first 19 minutes of the match.
The home side scored a total of seven tries just in the first half, with the visiting side responding with only one, to take the score at the halfway mark to 45-5, in favour of the Vodacom Bulls u/20.
Thereafter the Bulls easily found gaps in the weak Cheetah defence to score at will with both forwards and backs. The Cheetahs did manage to pull it together on the odd occasion to score three tries with the last one right at the end of the match.
The home team added four tries in the second half, while the side from Bloemfontein crossed over the try line twice.
It was a dominant performance by hooker, John Lombard, that saw him claim four tries on the day while left-wing, Moemagare Mothlodi scored twice and Neels Volschenk, Cameron Hanekom, rowan Cloete and Gert Steyn scored a try each.
Fullback, Regan Izak, was sharp with the boot as he converted nine of the 11 tries scored on the day.
The result ensured that the Vodacom Bulls u/20s remained in touching distance of the top spot which is occupied by DHL Western Province u/20 who defeated Leopards u2/0s 67-24 in Cape Town on Saturday.
The Vodacom Bulls u/20s now sit in second place with two points separating them and the log leaders.
The side from Tshwane now travels to Gqerberha next week where they will face the Eastern Province u/20 side.
Scorers:
Vodacom Bulls u/20: Tries: Johan Lombard (4), Ruan Delport, Neels Volschenk, Cameron Hanekom, Rowan Cloete, Moemagare Motlhodi (2), Gert Steyn. Conversions: Regan Izak (9)
Toyota Free State u/20: Tries: S Nortje, C Kleynhans, K Strydom. Conversion: J Smith.
Teams:
Vodacom Bulls u/20: 15. Regan Izaks, 14. Katlego Letebele, 13. Gert Steyn, 12. Sonwabo Sokoyi (c), 11. J Molete, 10. Carlton Banies, 9. Rowan Cloete, 8. Cameron Hanekom, 7. Willie Potgieter, 6. Neels Volschenk, 5. Marco de Witt, 4. Ruan Delport, 3. Sivuyise Mabece, 2. Johan Lombard, 1. Juann Else. Replacements: 16. Reuben van der Nest, 17. Corne Lavagna, 18. Johan Louw, 19. Gcinokuhle Mdletshe, 20. Abulele Ndabambi, 21. Tiaan Fourie, 22. Keanan Wentzel, 23. Larry Nkonki.
Toyota Free State u/20: 15. Dwayne Pharo, 14. Jacquin Jacobus, 13. Carl Pieter Kleynhans, 12. Chad Oppelt, 11. Levandrè Horne, 10. Juan Smith, 9. Juan Dee Olivier, 8. Danston Cloete, 7. Gerhardus Le Rouz, 6. Stean Nortje, 5. Aidan Oosthuizen, 4. Kian Kirsten, 3. Laurence Victor, 2. Ronaldo Ismail, 1. Aviwe Mpepo. Replacements: 16. Duan Ludik, 17. Jan Hendrik Bessenger, 18. Duncan Edwards, 19. Kevin Strydom, 20. Ulrich Bekker, 21. Murray Ferreira, 22. Michael Annies, 23. Emile Kotze.